Two men have been charged with stealing whisky during raids on premises across Speyside and into Perthshire.
Shops and distilleries from across the areas reported bottles of malt going missing from the shelves on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Police have estimated the value of the stolen whisky at more than £9,000.
Two men who live in Cornwall appeared from custody at Elgin Sheriff Court accused of carrying out the raids.
Mihai Craciun, 27, and Alexandru Iovanescu, 26, who both live in Falmouth, denied being involved in four separate reported thefts.
The men are accused of stealing high-value whisky from a string of premises in Moray – including Cardhu Distillery near Knockando, The Whisky Shop in Dufftown and The Whisky Castle in Tomintoul on Tuesday.
The duo have also denied carrying out a further theft from Aberfeldy Distillery in Perthshire on Wednesday.
Last night a police spokesman said inquiries into the reported thefts remain ongoing.
Craciun and Iovanescu, both of Treswale Road in Falmouth, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
They are scheduled to appear in court again in Elgin on April 28.
